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Mercedes-Benz · NHTSA safety record

2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK250

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

21

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

2

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK250 have filed 21 safety complaints with NHTSA between July 2016 and January 2023. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 15 of them (71%). The typical failure was reported at 62,000 miles, the median across the 7 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 5 recalls covering this vehicle. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Recalls (5)

COMMUNICATION

19V787000 · November 1, 2019

The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2017 vehicles due to a software fault that may cause the date and time for the emergency call system (eCall) to differ from the actual date and time, potentially relaying an inaccurate vehicle location. For a full list of the affected models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2019/RMISC-19V787-4620.pdf
The risk
An inaccurate vehicle location may delay emergency responders, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
MBUSA has initiated an Over the Air (OTA) remote update. MBUSA will also notify owners, and dealers will check software for a successful OTA or update the communication module software as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372. MBUSA's number for this recall is 2019120008.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 24,226 vehicles across all model years covered · fixed by software update

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

19V010000 · January 9, 2019

The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2014 C250, C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2014-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, GLK 350, GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, 2015-2017 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2014-2017 E550 Cabrio, and 2014-2016 E550 Coupe vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally, MBUSA is recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2011 C300, 2011-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Cabrio, E350 Coupe, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2011-2016 E550 Cabrio, E550 Coupe, 2011-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." MBUSA is also recalling certain 2012-2014 C250, E350 4Matic Coupe, SLS AMG Cabrio 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 4Matic Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2010-2011 C300, 2010-2014 C300 4Matic, C350, C63 AMG, E350 Coupe, 2011-2014 E350 Cabrio, SLS AMG Coupe, 2015-2016 E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabrio, E400 Coupe, 2016-2017 E550 Cabrio, 2010-2016 E550 Coupe, 2010-2015 GLK350 4Matic, GLK350 RWD, and 2013-2015 GLK250 BlueTec 4Matic vehicles ever registered in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MO, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the passenger or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began March 29, 2019. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 288,779 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

17V627000 · October 6, 2017

The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling these vehicles: 2014-2018 CLA250, CLA250 4Matic, CLA45 AMG 4Matic, 2015-2018 GLA250, GLA250 4Matic, GLA45 AMG 4Matic, C300 4Matic, C63S AMG, 2012-2014 C250, C350, C300 4Matic, E550 4Matic, 2013-2014 C63 AMG, 2012-2015 C250 Coupe, C350 Coupe, C63 AMG Coupe, 2013-2015 C350 4Matic Coupe, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, GLK350, GLK350 4Matic, 2016-2017 C350e, C43 AMG, 2015 C400 4Matic, 2016-2018 C63 AMG, GLC300, GLC300 4Matic, 2017-2018 C300 Coupe, C300 4Matic Coupe, C43 AMG, C63 AMG Coupe, C63S AMG Coupe, C300 Cabriolet, C300 4Matic Cabriolet, C43 AMG Cabriolet, C63 AMG Cabriolet, C63S AMG Cabriolet, GLC300 4Matic Coupe, GLC43 AMG, GLC43 AMG Coupe, 2014 E350 Coupe, E350 4Matic Coupe, E350 Cabriolet, E400 Hybrid, 2015-2017 E400 Coupe, E400 4Matic Coupe, E400 Cabriolet, 2014-2017 E550 Coupe, E550 Cabriolet, B250e, 2014-2016 E250 BlueTec, E63 AMG 4Matic Wagon, 2012-2013 E350 BlueTec, 2012-2016 E350, E350 4Matic, 2015-2016 E400, E400 4Matic, 2012 E63 AMG, 2014-2015 E250 4Matic BlueTec, 2013-2016 E350 Wagon, 2017 GLC300d 4Matic, and 2018 GLC350e 4Matic. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.
The risk
If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.
The remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began in December 6, 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-877-496-3691.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 495,290 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING

17V252000 · April 12, 2017

The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA LLC. (MBUSA) is recalling certain 2013-2014 C250, C300 4MATIC, GLK250 4MATIC BLUETEC and GLK350 vehicles, 2013 C250 Coupe, C350, C350 4MATIC Coupe, C350 Coupe and C63 AMG Coupe vehicles, and 2013-2015 GLK350 4MATIC vehicles. The steering coupling connecting bolt may have been insufficiently tightened, possibly resulting in a loss of steering.
The risk
A loss of steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering coupling connecting bolt, tightening it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 2017. Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at 1-800-367-6372.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 168 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

14V762000 · December 1, 2014

The defect
Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC (Mercedes) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 E250 BlueTec, E250 BlueTec 4Matic, GLK250 4Matic BlueTec, and 2015 ML250 4Matic BlueTec vehicles manufactured February 28, 2014, to November 10, 2014. In the affected vehicles, oil may leak from around the chain tensioner gasket area.
The risk
Leaking oil may drip onto a hot engine surface, increasing the risk of a fire. Additionally, the leaking oil may be a road hazard for other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Mercedes will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chain tensioner gasket, free of charge. The recall began on December 19, 2014. Owners may contact Mercedes customer service at 1-800-367-6372. Mercedes' number for this recall is 2014120002.

Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC. · up to 4,871 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

EA21002

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 21.

AIR BAGS 15 71%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 3 14%
ENGINE 2 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 10%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 10%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 5%
POWER TRAIN 1 5%
STEERING 1 5%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 9.

2016 2020 2023
2016 to 2023

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

1 injured · crash · towed · 122,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes Benz GLK250. The contact stated while driving at a slow speed and seeking a parking spot, the vehicle accelerated independently and caused her to crash into a parked vehicle. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated she did not sustain any injuries and her daughter (front passenger side) was feeling dizzy but declined to seek medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure

NHTSA complaint 11500787, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 injured · 59,000 miles

"SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF EXPLOSION" - MY 2013 MERCEDES GLK250 BLUETEC EXPERIENCED A SPONTANEOUS SUNROOF EXPLOSION WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AN ACCIDENT NEARLY OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE GUNSHOT LIKE IMPACT EXPERIENCED INSIDE THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE SUNROOF EXPLOSION. I HAD SEVERAL CHARDS OF GLASS EMBED IN MY SKIN AND IN MY EYE, AS THE EXPLOSION PRODUCED AN ULTRA FINE DUST OF SAFETY GLASS PARTICLES THAT WERE UNAVOIDABLE. NO IMPACT DEBRIS OR FOREIGN OBJECT WAS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE CAUSE OF THE EXPLOSION, HINTING AT MANUFACTURER DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint 10889085. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY/WIPER
1. Windshield wiper assemblies failed to operate. 2. During severe rainstorm in Northern California, driver side wiper arm stopped working while I was driving on freeway. 3. Confirmed by independent service center. He showed me a broken part under the hood. He said it would cost close to $1000.00 to repair. 4. I will be taking the car to a Mercedes Benz dealer for a second opinion. 5. No warning lights appeared.

NHTSA complaint 11501428. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

75,000 miles

The contact owns a 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK250. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side air bag warning light failed to function as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the mechanic informed the contact that the sensor light was permanently disabled. The contact then stated that he was informed of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V010000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to call the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

NHTSA complaint 11486095. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Left side boost tube blown twice on my vehicle. Technical part info: 204-528-00-00, Charge Air Hose Both incidents involved sudden loss of power in the middle of the free way driving. First incident: Christmas Day 2018, on the way to Las Vegas from Grand Canyon visit, on highway 93. Fortunately, no vehicle was behind when I lost the power, moved to right lane and continued driving slowly to reach the hotel in LV (about 50 miles at low speeds). Check engine light came on immediately after loosing the power. Next day morning, visited the local Mercedes dealer to repair the vehicle, it costed me $520.19 This was in the middle of a long road trip from Phoenix to San Fransisco. Second incident:

NHTSA complaint 11428939, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
SUMMARY: MERCEDES-BENZ USA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2010-2017 C-CLASS, GLK-CLASS, SLS-CLASS AND E-CLASS COUPE MERCEDES-BENZ VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER-SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAGS AFFECTED BY THE DEFECT DECISION OF TK HOLDINGS, INC. ( TAKATA ). UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES DURING A CRASH THAT NECESSITATES FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, THE DEFECT IN YOUR PASSENGER-SIDE FRONTAL AIRBAG INFLATOR MAY CAUSE THE INFLATOR TO EXPLODE. A PASSENGER-SIDE INFLATOR EXPLOSION DURING DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING THE FRONT PASSENGER OR OTHER OCCUPANTS, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. SAFETY RISK: ACCORDING TO TAKATA, IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR EXPLOSION, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS

NHTSA complaint 11364562, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG HAS A FACTORY DEFECT. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL MERCEDES DEALERSHIP MULTIPLE TIMES REGARDING THE ISSUE,BUT THEY JUST KEEP SAYING THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE RECALL HAS BEEN OPEN FOR OVER A YEAR, SO THEY HAD MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint 11363423. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Mercedes-Benz GLK250

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2015 19 5

Other 2014 Mercedes-Benz models

Every Mercedes-Benz on this site — 216 vehicles, 576 recall campaigns and 1 open investigation .

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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